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chicken salad chick copycat
chicken salad chick copycat
Photo by Stefanie Trepper for Spoon University
Recipes

This Copycat Chicken Salad Chick Recipe Is Better Than The Original

Spoon University Placeholder Avatar Stefanie Trepper

It’s hard to believe it’s almost summer once again. This means spending lazy hours outdoors and eating meals al fresco. These increasingly warm days naturally lend themselves to easy, no-cook meals, and a classic go-to is chicken salad. There are as many varieties of chicken salad as there are TikTok videos about it. Still, one of the most popular chicken salads celebrated by many is from Chicken Salad Chick. They have flavors such as The Barbie-Q and The Fancy Nancy, but when in doubt, the Classic Carol is a solid choice. Made with white meat chicken, this copycat recipe utilizes chicken thighs to retain moisture and impart additional flavor. For an extra layer of flavor, use Duke’s or Kewpie brand mayonnaise. They both have added vinegar, which brings depth to the chicken salad and a necessary tang, complementing the ranch seasoning. Poaching the chicken keeps it moist, and adding some of the poaching liquid balances the other bold ingredients. The result is an unctuous chicken salad that sets itself apart from standard recipes just enough to make people ask, “What’s in this?” It’s up to you as to whether you want to divulge the recipe for this copycat Chicken Salad Chick chicken salad.

Copycat Chicken Salad Chick Classic Chicken Salad
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Copycat Chicken Salad Chick Classic Chicken Salad

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 15 minutesCook time: 15 minutesTotal time: 30 minutesServings:6 servings

Description

This is an easy and delicious chicken salad for all seasons, but especially for summer picnics!

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Cook the chicken: Place the chicken in a large pot in a single layer. Add enough water to cover the chicken by one inch. Bring the water to a boil and then reduce it to a simmer. Poach the chicken for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until it is fully cooked.
  2. If you have a Kitchen Aid mixer, fit it with the paddle attachment and shred the chicken. The chicken can also be shredded using two forks.
  3. In the bowl of the mixer or in a medium-sized bowl, combine the celery, mayonnaise, ranch dressing mix, salt, celery salt, poaching liquid, and black pepper. Stir until well blended.
  4. Store chicken salad in an air-tight container and refrigerate until cold.
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Stefanie Trepper
Stefanie Trepper is a freelance contributor to Spoon University in New York City, where she is a recipe tester and developer.

As a culinary student, she focused on developing nutritious, budget-friendly, and adaptable recipes to accommodate various diets and food allergies. She is committed to sourcing healthy, local, and seasonal foods and is a contributor and volunteer at her local organic cooperative community garden. Stefanie studied in Provence, France, where she learned about sustainable farming and cooking practices. During her study in France, Stefanie developed relationships with local farmers and purveyors and utilized seasonal, locally sourced foods. Concurrently, she worked in a restaurant, which earned a green Michelin star for sustainability under a two Michelin-starred chef. Stefanie has previously worked as both an educator and an administrator and used food and cooking to bridge cultural connections. A graduate of Colby College, she is passionate about environmental studies and earned a B.A. in Art History. She also holds a Master's Degree from The Bank Street College of Education and an advanced leadership certificate from Harvard University.

In her free time, Stefanie enjoys traveling, learning the Italian language, entertaining friends for dinner dates, and spending time with her husband and two children. She also enjoys listening to her favorite true crime podcasts and playing with her two rescued cats. Stefanie is a horror movie buff and considers Halloween (1978) one of the best horror movies of all time. A lover of New York City, Stefanie loves exploring new neighborhoods, perusing ethnic markets, and finding new dishes and cuisines to replicate at home.